Automatic means for controlling sliding members



A July 20, 1943. J. P. O'CONNOR AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SLIDING MEMBERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed march 27, 1942 Q d ,1 A. w 1 2 41 L r p f I y f .0 why/iii;

v 2Sheets-Sh'eet 2 m r a l I J. P. OC' ZQNNOQR Filed 'llarch 27, 1942 7 AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SLIDING MEMBERS July 20, 1943.

when the spaced projections are above the rocking member. V

Fig. 4 also shows in elevation an exampleof horizontally arranged members relatively movable and controlled as to movement in one direction by the locking means but arranged for operation when the spaced projections are below the rocking member.

Figs. 5 and 5d show in elevation examples of the spaced projections arranged on the periphery of a wheel, the controlled spaced projections on the wheel in this case serving to control relative movement in one direction betweena rackand the member carrying the wheel and rocker. 1

Fig. 6 shows in elevation how the invention may be applied to the control of movement -of on a curved rack or quadrant as hereinafter described.

Fig.- 7 shows in elevation an example in which the member carrying the rocker is slidable relatiyely to a fixed rack or series of spaced projecin this casethe cam of the rocker i s v controlled byethe spaced projectionson the rack; and the paw1 controls movement of the; spaced projections on the wheel ,which in turn controls movernent in one direction of the sliding member carrying the rockerand wheel relatively to the I V ,i:

is Fig. 9 is anexample in which the; rocker and its co-op erating wheel of spacedprojections are fixed and the rack ;is movable, the camof the rocker in this case is'shown'controlledby the projections; on the .wheel whilst the pawl of the rocker-co-operates with the spaced projections of the sliding rack." H 1 v In these drawings all theexarnples are shown that when the sash l is lowered at less than a predetermined speed theprojections 2 as they descend and pass the cam 6 will act on the upper or leading, substantially straight and fiat surfaceof the cam to cause it to turn the pawl 6 into the groove i as shown in full lines at Fig. 1

by the'dotted lines in Fig. 1 thereby moving the pawl 6. out of the groove l and allowing the 7 next projection 2 to pass downwards without interference from the pawl 6.

sash lis lowered at or above the predetermined a hinged fanlight slidably supported at its top;

into the groove l as to take the pawl 6 out of 'ithegroove, with the result that'the projection ing actionbetween the-rocker 6 and the projec .inelevation with parts, in section where -necessary for clearness, and it will beunderstood that the-,thickness of the roclrer will vary with requirements and that the shapeof the rocker will varyfa's' regards the balance of the rocker, r.

from the examples shown, in accordance with requirements and in regard to "whether'it'is to 'controlmembers with relative movement vertic'ally', horizontally or at, intermediate angles and alsoin regardto whether therocker is tdope'rat'e .1

above or below the spaced projections. "j I will now more particularly describe th vention witlireference 'to these drawings.

' .In the example shown at Figs. 1 and 2, the inventiorris shown applied 'to thencontrolling,

of movementjin one direction of avertically sliclable windowsa'sh. 'The window sash- 'I has a series ofspa'ced' projections 2 in the form of a rack located in a groove I in the side of" the sash. In a housing 3 sunk in the side of the window frame-4 and turnably supportedin bearings on a bracket-5 is a rocking member or rocker 6 having a projection 'or pawl 6 at the-top thereof 2 approaching the pawl 6 will contact with and will pull in the pawl and will be held by the pawl asshownat Fig. 2. The locking, action of the r pawl onthe- .rack can be released by slightly raising the sash I sothat' the cam 6 swingsagain into theigroove I? andtakes the pawl 6 clear of the groove whereupon thesash can be slowly lowered if'desired. Upwards movement of the sash l is free -fr o m any looking action bythe pawl 5. A- -stopper;6 is-shown provlded'on the roclgenfi andcorresponding stops ,Standi .are

provided on ;the;bracket 5 to limit1 ;the.rooking movement .ofithe rocker-f6.

The ,I cam li -1 and projection 32 may be lsaidto be substantiallyof complementary toe-like contoun cam 6"; having" a leading, straight and fiat face, and a trailing convexiace; .By leading faceis meant theface In the example shown atFig. '3- the projections 2 arelocated above therocker fi and the pawl]; is weighted in order normallytolocate the .cam

61 in the groovelfiso thatthe c -QperatiVe lock- {tlOl'lSflWlllbC essentiallythe same as; described with reference to Figs. 1 and; 2 In this case it ,isimmaterialwhether:therack or projectioncar- .ryjng member slides relatively to the member! supporting the rocker 5 or vice versa.

7 In 'theexampleshownatiFigr i the projections I 211 are located below the rocker 6 and thecamfi is weighted so as normally to locate'it in'the groove 1% so'thattheco-operative locking action between ;therocker 6 and the: projections 2 will :be essentially the same as described with refer- 5ence toFigs.; 1 and '2.-; In this casealso it is im-: .material whether the rackor projection carrying member. slides relatively to the ,member 8, sup a j porting the. roclger or-viceversa. Examples. Figs.

it .may benecessary to -modify the balance of the rockerto ensurethe desired cor-operative lockin action; between the-rocker .andthe spaced pro-f *i on 1 1 and a projecting cam 6 at the lower end thereof,

"the rocker being weightedat 6 so that, by grav- 1 ity action the cam 8 normallylies in the recess or groove. I? in the 'pathaof .movement of the spaced projections 2.. -..The-latter. are so spaced,

'theodistance between. thecam 6 and theupawl 6 .andatheshape of the cam: and pawl are such 75 gln-the exampleshownat the spaced projections Z are arranged in: curved :formation' on the periphery of a wheel and the, rocker 5 .jections-Z due to the preponderance'oi weight .at the carn fi i; .;At Fig. -15. the .rockerliisshown' arranged'belo ws the wheel of spaced projections ,Z', ;,the, rocker- 6; being modified accordingly so i hat, ;in th c et ep eponde an c. r. weight lis at-tho pawl end oiitherooker inporder normaliy If however the housing in said ime,{ blated-mean housing, a gravity-controlledrocker pivotally mounted for limited rotation on said bracket, and including 'a pawl means, a cam part, anda counterweight means,-said cam partand projections-having complementary generally gtoe-like contours, the cam part having leadingand trailing faces, one substantially straight and. flat and th'ejother convex, said rocke'r being so positioned ins'aid housingrelativeto said rack that upon relative movement of the-two members the cam part, under the gravity action of the counterweight means, contacts said spaced projections, the projections in one direction of'relativemovement of'thetwo members slipping said cam part without'actuating 'the rocker, but actuating the same in the opposite direction of such relative movement,

that projection which in" the 'rocker actuating direction of relative movement of the two members momentarily is'opposite the campart being adapted first to contact the'leading face thererate, to permit; due' to inertia, removal of' the pawl means from the pathlofthenext projection before engagement therewith.

4. In combination, a frame, an elongatedrack having spaced projections thereon and movable relative'to said frame, a housing-in said frame adjacent saidrack, a bracket extending transversely'of said housing, a ro'cker mounted'fo'r limited rotation on said bracket, having a' 'carn part and'a pawl means disposed-near opposite ends thereof, counterweight means disposed centrally and rearwardly'ofsaid rocker'and normalof to force thelatter about its pivot andthereby rock the pawl means into the path of the'next succeeding projection and thereafter to contact the trailing face of the cam part, tending to permit the pawl means to rock in the opposite direction, out of the path of the said'next 'su'cceedingprojectiom-said projections being spaced apart a distance sufilcient to permit the'pawl means from thepath'of the next projection beondmember and comprising a pawl means, a

cam part, ancLa counterweight-meahathe rocker being positioned in saidhousing so, that the- .ly urging said cam partforwardly of said-bracket,

said bracket being so'positioned that ;the{cam party of the rocker, when moved forwardly by the counterweight means, comes into the path of the said projections, and said-cam partand projections having complementary generally toeflike contours, the cam'part having leading and trail ing faces, one substantially straight and flat and the other convex, the'projection which'in-onel direction of relative movement of the two members momentarily'is opposite the cam part,-first contacting the leading face thereof and forcing the latter aboutits pivot to rock the pawl means into the path of :the next'succeeding projection and-thereafter contacting the trailingfaceof the cam part, tending to permit the pawl means to rock in the opposite direction, :out of'the path of the said nextsucceeding projection,.said projections being spaced apart a distance suificient to permit the pawl means, during .slow 'relative movement'of the members, to be restored to position out of the pathofthe projection 'butincounterweight means normally forces the 'cam part'into the path of the spaced projections, the cam part contacting the latter iupon relative movement of the twogmembers, the projections,

in one direction of relative movement ofzthe two 2 members, slipping said cam'part without actuating'the -rocker, each projection being substam tially flat on onesurface thereof and convex on its other face, in toe-like manner, and the said cam part having a leading, substantiallystraight and flat face and ,a trailing convex face, the cam part having toe-like configuration complementary to thatof the projection, operablecontactoccurring, upon movement in the'opp site direction of the members, between the operable edge of that projection momentarily opposite the cam part and the leading face of the latter, the rockerthus being forced uponitspivotito move the pawl means into the path of the ,nextsucceeding projection, further relative movement bringing the convex face of'the projection into contact with the convex; face :of the came part tending to permit the pawl means to rock in the opposite direction, out of the path of thesaid next succeeding projection, saidprojections being spaced apart a distancecsuflicient to permit, during slow relative movement of the members, the, pawl means to be restored to position ,out of suflicient, when the relative movement exceeds a predetermined rate, to permit, due to inertia, re-

movalof the pawl means from the path of the next projection before engagement therewith.

5. In combination, a frame, an'elonga'ted rack having spaced. projections thereonand movable relative to said frame, a housing in the said frame adjacent said rack, a support bracketinsaid housing, a rocker disposed for limited'r'otation on said bracket, a cam. part and a pawl means on said' rocker adjacent opposite ends thereof, counterweight means alsooni said rocker tending to rock the latter-so that the camvpart normally extends outwardly of said housing into-the path of the said rack, cooperatingstops on said rockerand bracket for limiting .the rotation of saidrocker in each, direction of rotation, said cam part and projections having complementary generally toe-like contours, the ,cam part having the relative movement-exceeds a predetermined the path of the projections ;but insufficient, when r the relative movement exceeds ,a predetermined leading and trailing ,fa'ces, ,onejsubstantially straight and flatand the other convex, said'cam part contacting said spaced projections upon rela.-' tive. movement of the two members, that projection which in one direction of relative movement of the two'membersmomentarily.i opposite the cam part first contacting" the leading face thereof and forcing the latter aboutits-pivot to rock the pawl means into the path of.the next succeeding projectiomand thereafter contacting the trailing face of the cam part,ztending to permit the pawl means tQTOCk in theopposite direction, out'of the. path of the said next succeeding projection, said projections; being spacedapartsuflicient distance to permitthe pawl means, duringslow relative movement ofithe, members, to be restored to positionout of ,the'

path of the projections,zbut insufficient," when rate, to permitgdue to: inertia, removal of the pawl means from the path of the next projection before engagement therewith.-

6. The combination of a fixed frame, a rack having spaced projections extending toward said frame, and mounted on a movable window sash, a housing disposed in said frame and opening adjacent said rack, a rocker mounted for limited rotation in said housing and having a pawl means and a cam part adjacent opposite ends thereof, and adapted to be rocked selectively into the path of the said projections, counterweight means on said rocker normally tending to mOVe said rocker to bring the cam part into the path of the projections, said cam part and projections having complementary generally toe-like contours, the cam part having leading and trailing faces, one substantially straight and flat and the other convex, the said rocker being inactive upon upward movement of the rack, the projection which in thedownward direction of movement of the rack momentarily is opposite the cam part first contacting the leading face thereof and forcing the latter about its pivot to rock the pawl means into the path of the next succeeding projection, and thereafter contacting the trailing face of the cam part, tending to permit the pawl means to rock in the opp site direction, out of the path of the said next succeeding projection, said projections being spaced apart a distance sufiicient to permit the pawl means, during slow downward movement of the rack, to be restored to position out of the path of the projections, but insufficient, when the relative movement exceeds a predetermined rate, to permit, due to inertia, removal of the pawl means from the path of the next projection before engagement therewith.

7. In combination, a stationary frame, a swingable closure pivotally connected thereto, a segmental toothed rack pivotally mounted on and swingable outwardly of aid frame, a bracket on the exterior of said closure, a circular member rotatably mounted on said bracket and having outwardly extending, spaced projections, a pinion fast to said rotatable member and meshing with the teeth of said rack, a rocker pivotally mounted on said bracket and having thereon counterweight means, and a pawl means and a cam part disposed near opposite ends thereof, the counterweight means normally swinging the pawl means out of the path of the projections of the circular member, the contour of the cam part being such that the rocker is inactive in the closing movement of the closure member, the cam part and projections having complementary generally toelike contours, the cam part having leading substantially straight and flat and trailing convex faces, that projection which in the opening movement of the closure member momentarily is opposite the cam part first contacting the leading face thereof and forcing the latter about its pivot to rock the pawl means into the path of the next succeeding projection, and thereafter contacting the trailing face of the cam part, tending to permit the pawl means to rock in the opposite direction, out of the path of the next succeeding projection, said projections being spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit the pawl means, during slow movement of the closure member, to be restored to position out of the path of the projections, but insufiicient, when movement of the closure member exceeds a predetermined rate to permit, due to inertia, removal of the pawl means from the path of the next projection before engagement therewith, rotation of the projectioncarrying member causing rotation of the pinion and movement of the latter along said rack.

JAMES PHILIP OCONNOR. 

